Health Minister Chua Jui Meng today criticised DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang for making false accusations about the ministry ignoring the World Health Organisation's (WHO) alert o­n the dengue epidemic.

Lim had repeatedly said the ministry had ignored an alert issued by WHO last July warning all tropical countries including Malaysia to be prepared for an increase in the number of dengue cases in view of the unusually wet weather conditions.

During the Dewan Rakyat question-and-answer session, however, Chua ( photo ) refuted Lim's accusation as false.

"The Health Ministry was accused by DAP numerous times for ignoring the WHO alert issued last July. This is not true at all. The ministry received a written admission from the WHO representative in Kuala Lumpur dated Feb 24 which explained that WHO never issued such warning," he said.

Speaking to reporters later at the Parliament lobby, he charged that Lim's fight against the dengue epidemic was a mere "political trap" sprung by the opposition leader.

"We are not stupid.... We have to realise (what's out there) and not fall into the trap of a certain person. When (was the trap laid)? Just before (the Non-Aligned Movement summit, held last month). It was a political trap trying to shame the nation in the eyes of the NAM leaders.

"Timing, reports to Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) and giving figures which are wrong - saying that there were more than 30,000 cases and over 80 deaths.

"And this year, he said there were more deaths reported, with cases (numbering over) 9,000. All these are misleading figures," said the minister.

Asked why he kept mum when Lim started issuing statements months ago, he replied, "We did. I have clarified in a press conference. But when it comes to NAM, I think for the sake of the country, we just do our work."

He said the ministry had issued an alert to several authorities last June without being prompted by any WHO warning.

Backed by two reports

In an immediate response, Lim ( photo ) refuted Chua's statement, citing two media reports to back him up.

Utusan Malaysia and Associated Press o­n July 29 and 30 last year respectively quoted WHO's Department of Communicable Diseases based in Geneva as issuing such a warning.

"The ministry does not necessarily need to wait until WHO sends it an official letter before it can take action. The ministry must be o­n the alert following the warning from Geneva," Lim said when contacted.

Lim also denied Chua's allegation that he was laying a "political trap".

"It is not true that I chose the timing (to play up the issue) during the NAM summit. I have been issuing statements since last December o­n the dengue epidemic. NAM or no NAM is not an issue."

He added that he would comment further o­n the matter when he has read Chua's written reply in the House.

No vaccination for dengue

Earlier during the question-and-answer session, Chua revealed that there were 11,394 confirmed serology cases and 57 deaths in 2002.

He reiterated that the statistics were still lower than the nation's worst dengue epidemic in 1998.

For this year as of Feb 22, the minister said there were 3,410 confirmed serology cases and 11 deaths.

Answering a supplementary question o­n a cure for dengue, Chua said that even WHO does not have any vaccination for dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Characterised by painful joints, fever and a rash, dengue symptoms usually begin within a week of a bite from a carrier mosquito.